So I got stuck at JFK after landing at LGA from Dallas on my way to LA, because apparently flying across the country isn’t chaotic enough without throwing in an unnecessary airport shuffle. Honestly, just another week. Jet lag isn’t even something I factor in anymore. I sleep where I can, when I can. My friends literally have an album of me fully passed out open-mouthed in Ubers, planes, trains, couches, basically anywhere I sit still for longer than 10 minutes. It’s a skill at this point.
If you’re still watching my stories, you probably think I’m still in London, but I’ve actually been up since 2 AM writing in my mom’s kitchen this week. The work keeps moving: onboarding two new hires after months of searching for people who can not only keep up with the speed, but actually add something to what we’re building. It takes a minute to find those people, but when you do, it changes everything.
In between calls, I was reading this article in WSJ about “CEO Pink.” This dusty, muted pink that’s apparently being rebranded as the new power neutral. My honest take? I’m such a pink girl, always have been. I’m literally wearing a pink and red striped two-piece into the office today. But the part that annoys me is that we have to call it “CEO Pink” at all. You should be able to wear whatever color you want without attaching some label that supposedly makes it powerful. Pink doesn’t automatically equal femininity. And as a self-proclaimed anti-boss babe, I hate anything that puts a label in front of my title. I’m not a She-EO. I’m not a female founder, unless you’re going to start calling guys “male founders,” which we all know you’re not.
Elle Woods walked so “CEO Pink” could strut.
Why is what women wear in the office still a headline, while dudes can show up in hoodies, jeans, and not shave for three months and still be called visionaries? I don’t get it.
Anyhowwww, everyone’s off posting beach and spritz-filled stories from Italy and gearing up for EthCC in Cannes (yes, I’m already getting FOMO and it hasn’t even started), while I’ll be here surviving the NYC heat wave this week, dreaming of pasta, and building AI bots.
Business & Marketing News
Pop Up in Puglia
J.Crew said ciao bella to the Italian coast with its new summer collab at Masseria San Domenico, a luxe hotel in Puglia. Think elevated resortwear, lemon gelato and Aperol spritzes aplenty.WhatsApp Gets Ads
WhatsApp is officially joining the Meta ad machine. Despite promising to keep the messaging app ad-free in the past, the announcement was made last week.SKIMS x Nike Delays
NikeSKIMS is hitting the snooze button. The highly anticipated activewear collab, originally set for spring, has been delayed due to internal production issues, with no word on when fans can expect it to drop.
Turbulence for JetBlue
It hasn’t been a great year for JetBlue, and it’s not likely to get better. The airline has been cutting flights and removing routes to save money, but they still may not breakeven for 2025.
Culture & Lifestyle
First Lady of Fashion
Former FLOTUS Michelle Obama is dropping a new book this fall and it’s all about her style evolution, from the White House to post-presidency glow-up. It’ll also include insights from Obama's entire glam squad, and apparently they’re spilling all the presidential beauty secrets.
Squid Game: Final Round
Netflix is dialing up the tension with a second trailer for Squid Game’s third and final season. The immensely popular K-drama returns on June 27.Too Much for Lena
Lena Dunham returns to the small screen, and this time she’s only working behind the camera. The HBO Girls alum debuts her new Netflix series Too Much (a messy, modern rom-com set between New York and London) on July 10.
Tech & Leadership
Gen Z Wants BlackBerries
Gen Z’s latest obsession? BlackBerrys. The iconic 2000s keyboard phone is making a TikTok-fueled comeback as a minimalist antidote to doomscrolling. Watch this space to see if there’s an uptick in sales for BB, a company that’s been struggling since the launch of the iPhone in 2007.Vatican Meets Silicon Valley
Pope Leo XIV just weighed in on AI - and he wants developers to remember their moral compass. At a Vatican-hosted event with tech execs, the first American pope called for ethical AI that honors human dignity, body and soul.
Shareholders vs AAPL
Apple’s being sued for allegedly misleading shareholders about how ready its AI-powered Siri actually was. Investors say the company hyped features that weren’t even close to finished, leading to disappointed customers and falling stock prices.
Your Brain on ChatGPT
A recent MIT study found that an overreliance on services like ChatGPT can lead to decreased cognitive function and critical thinking skills. We’re only just beginning to understand the impact of AI on our brains, but early signs suggest it may be making us more forgetful, disengaged, and a little too comfortable hitting copy-paste.
In the most recent episode of the MHOB podcast, I had an incredible conversation with Makena Finger-Zannini, a seasoned serial entrepreneur who’s no stranger to the emotional rollercoaster of managing a business. Makena doesn’t sugarcoat the founder journey and that’s exactly what makes her perspective so powerful. We talked about what it’s like to lead when the stakes are high, the mindset shifts that happen when you’re scaling versus surviving, and why emotional resilience is just as critical as strategy.
In this episode:
How Makena’s entrepreneurial journey began in survival mode
Why operations are the heartbeat of a sustainable business
The power of hiring adaptable, fast-thinking team members
What most leaders get wrong about accountability
How to make hard decisions without losing yourself
Why understanding ROI is the difference between hustle and growth
The constant evolution of business processes and systems
If you’re a founder juggling multiple roles, questioning your leadership style, or wondering how to scale without burning out, this one’s for you. Makena’s real, raw, and practical insights will leave you feeling both seen and equipped for your next big leap.
Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
College? Optional. Sallie Mae? No thanks. Six-figure salary in the trades? Now we’re talking.
Gen Z is quietly rewriting the rules of success. There’s a growing trend of skipping traditional college routes in favor of skilled trades that offer job security, financial freedom, and real-world impact. With AI automating white-collar jobs and the cost of degrees skyrocketing, blue collar jobs are looking more future-proof (and fulfilling) than ever.
I broke down what’s driving the shift and what it means for schools, employers, and the American dream. Read the full piece on LinkedIn.
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